Dr. Howe rose, and walked about the room a moment, breathing hard, and swallowing once or twice, as though to choke some hot words. Then he sat down, and began to argue. First, he tried to prove to Helen that there was a hell, but unconsciously he veered to assertions that it made no difference, anyhow; that of course the doctrine of eternal damnation was preposterous, and that she must persuade Mr. Ward to drop the subject. He reasoned and threatened, then he expostulated and implored, ending all with, "You must go back, and at once." Helen had been silent, but when he finished she said, so absently that he knew she had not been listening, "Shall I explain why I have come back, or would you prefer to do it?" "Explain?" cried the rector. "What are you thinking of? Of course not! It is not to be known." "It must be known, I think," Helen answered calmly. "I am here, and I shall stay here, so it seems to me better to disarm gossip by telling the truth at once." Dr. Howe sunk back in his chair, and looked at his niece in speechless annoyance. "You had better let me tell them, uncle Archie," she said simply; "it will be less unpleasant for you." Then he regained his voice: "It is not to be told, Helen. I shall not allow it. If you have no sense, I'll take the matter into my own hands. If people choose to gossip about your being here a few days or a week,--it may take a week for this folly to blow over,--why, they can, that's all. I will not--you hear me, Helen?--I will not enter into any absurd explanations." Helen lifted her heavy eyes, and looked at him a moment, and then she said, "Aunt Deely?" Dr. Howe suffered a sudden collapse. "Well, I--ah--well, perhaps Adele. I suppose Adele must know it. I don't know but what her common sense may be good for you, my dear. Yes, I'll tell Adele." "I should like to have Lois understand it," Helen said. "Well," Dr. Howe conceded, "yes--I suppose you might mention it to Lois--because"-- "I don't want her to think anything wrong of John," Helen explained. Dr. Howe stared at her blankly, but did not burst into wrathful exclamations; he was actually exhausted in mind and body; this controversy had been too much for him. But that remark of Helen's ended it. She went slowly up-stairs, clinging to the balustrade as though she needed some support, yet she had not spoken of being tired. She passed Lois, sitting on the window-seat which ran across the broad landing, but did not seem to see her, and there was something in her cousin's face which kept the young girl dumb. Dr. Howe did not go to Dale house until the next day; he vaguely hoped something would turn up before his sister discovered Helen's presence at the rectory, which would make this humiliating confession unnecessary. But nothing happened except the arrival of a letter from John Ward to Dr. Howe, explaining his convictions and reiterating his determination.